The Civil Rights Archive

Gwen Patton, Trenholm State Technical College

Published:

23 June 2004

Overview:

Gwen Patton never imagined herself as an archivist until her grandparents began giving her their memorabilia from the civil rights movement. She then realized the need for a grassroots archive for local students and community members. At Trenholm State Technical College, Patton helped establish the only archive in the US at a two-year community college. Here she discusses the reasons why Trenholm State has this archive, the problems she has overcome to establish the archive, and what the archive has taught her and can teach the community.